Pressure regulator

ABSTRACT

A regulator is disclosed that controls fluid flow through a control valve via a linkage including a lever that is acted upon by a spring cylinder acting in a direction perpendicular to the direction of fluid flow through pipes connected to the control valve. The closure performance of the control valve of the regulator is optimized by the direction the spring cylinder acts and the mechanical advantage the lever provides. The regulator further includes a diaphragm and diaphragm cover, and the regulator is configured to allow the diaphragm cover to be stamped rather than cast.

FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE

This disclosure relates generally to a regulator for changing the flowrate through a control valve in order to maintain a predeterminedpressure at an outlet. In particular, this disclosure relates to aregulator that controls fluid flow through a control valve via a linkageincluding a lever that is acted upon by a spring cylinder acting in adirection perpendicular to the direction of fluid flow through thecontrol valve.

BACKGROUND

A regulator is known in the art as a device that can change the flowrate through a control valve in order to maintain a predeterminedpressure at an outlet. Some known regulators control fluid flow througha control valve via a lever that is acted upon by a diaphragm containedin a housing having a spring cylinder in an upper chamber that acts uponthe diaphragm in a direction parallel to the direction of fluid flowthrough the control valve. Such regulators require a diaphragm coverthat is made through a casting process, which is expensive. Other knownregulators control fluid flow through a control valve without a levervia a diaphragm having a spring cylinder acting in an lower chamber thatacts in a direction perpendicular to the direction of fluid flow throughthe control valve. Such regulators can have a housing that is stampedrather than cast, which is more cost effective. However, the closureperformance of the control valve achieved by such regulators is lowerthan that achieved by regulators employing a lever.

SUMMARY

The present disclosure is directed to a regulator that controls fluidflow through a control valve via a linkage including a lever that isacted upon by a diaphragm having a spring cylinder in an upper chamberthat acts in a direction perpendicular to the direction of fluid flowthrough the control valve. The diaphragm cover for embodiments withinthe scope of the present invention can be stamped, resulting in a lowercost than would be the case if it had to be cast, while the linkageincluding the lever allows for high closure performance of the controlvalve.

The regulator of the present disclosure includes a diaphragm containedin a housing. The diaphragm divides the housing into two parts, an upperpart that includes a diaphragm cover and a lower part. A spring isdisposed in the upper part of the housing between the diaphragm and thediaphragm cover. In the lower part of the housing, the diaphragm isconnected to a lever, which is part of a linkage that controls a valvestem. Movement of the spring causes the diaphragm to move, which movesthe linkage and ultimately results in the valve stem moving to controlthe flow of fluid through a control valve.

The linkage includes the lever and a link. The lever has a main bodyportion, a first end portion connected to a first end of the main body,and a second end portion connected to a second end of the main body andto the lower part of the housing. The link has a first section connectedto the lever, and a second section connected to a valve stem. The linkis connected to the lower part of the housing at a fixed hinge point ator near the location where the first section meets the second section.

In some embodiments within the scope of the present disclosure, thesecond end portion of the lever of the linkage has a sliding connectionwith the lower part of the housing and the lever is connected to thelink at a fixed hinge point. In other embodiments within the scope ofthe present disclosure, the second end portion of the lever of thelinkage is connected at a fixed hinge point to the lower part of thehousing and the lever has a sliding connection with the link. In otherembodiments within the scope of the present disclosure, the second endportion of the lever of the linkage has a sliding connection with thelower part of the housing and the lever has a sliding connection withthe link.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a front view of a regulator known in the art that has a castdiaphragm cover and controls fluid flow through a control valve via alever that is acted upon by a spring cylinder in a direction parallel tothe direction of fluid flow through the control valve.

FIG. 2 is a front view of a regulator known in the art that has astamped diaphragm cover and controls fluid flow through a control valvewithout a lever as a result of action by a spring cylinder in adirection perpendicular to the direction of fluid flow through thecontrol valve.

FIG. 3 is a front view of the regulator of the present disclosure thathas a stamped diaphragm cover and controls fluid flow through a controlvalve via a lever and linkage that is acted upon by a spring cylinder ina direction perpendicular to the direction of fluid flow through thecontrol valve.

FIG. 4 is a front view of a linkage of the present disclosure wherein asecond end portion of a lever of the linkage has a sliding connectionwith a lower part of a housing of a regulator and the lever is connectedto the link at a fixed hinge point.

FIG. 5 is a front view of a linkage of the present disclosure wherein asecond end portion of a lever of the linkage has a fixed connection witha lower part of a housing of a regulator and the lever has a slidingconnection with a link.

FIG. 6 is a front view of a linkage of the present disclosure wherein asecond end portion of a lever of the linkage has a sliding connectionwith the lower part of a housing of a regulator and the lever has asliding connection with a link.

FIG. 7 is a front view of a linkage of the present disclosure similar toFIG. 6 but with an alternative arrangement for the sliding connection.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG. 1 depicts a regulator 2 known in the art that controls fluid flowthrough a control valve 4 located between a first pipe 6 and a secondpipe 8. The regulator 2 has a valve stem 10 that moves to adjust fluidflow through the control valve 4. The valve stem 10 is connected to alever 12 that is acted upon by a diaphragm 14. The diaphragm iscontained in a housing 16 having a upper chamber 18 formed in part by adiaphragm cover 20 and a lower chamber 22. A spring 24 is located in theupper chamber 18 and acts on the diaphragm 14 in a direction parallel tothe flow of fluid through first pipe 6 and second pipe 8. The lever 12provides a desirable mechanical advantage as it amplifies the forceexerted on it by the diaphragm 14. Unfortunately, the configuration ofthe regulator 2 requires that the diaphragm cover 20 be cast, which isexpensive. Further, the direction of the force exerted by the spring 24must be rotated 90° to move the valve stem 10 to restrict fluid flowthrough the control valve 4.

FIG. 2 depicts a regulator 102 known in the art that controls fluid flowthrough a control valve 104 located between a first pipe 106 and asecond pipe 108. The regulator 102 has a valve stem 110 that moves toadjust fluid flow through the control valve 104. The valve stem 110 isconnected to a spring 124 that is acted upon by a diaphragm 114. Thespring 124 acts in a direction perpendicular to the flow of fluidthrough the first pipe 106 and second pipe 108. The diaphragm 114 iscontained in a housing 116 having an upper chamber 118 formed in part bya diaphragm cover 120 and a lower chamber 122 containing the spring 124.The upper chamber 118 of the housing 116 is connected to the second pipe108 downstream of the control valve 104. The configuration of theregulator 102 allows for the diaphragm cover 120 to be stamped, which isless expensive than casting, and the direction of force exerted by thespring 124 does not need to be rotated in order to move the valve stem110 to restrict fluid flow through the control valve 104. However,regulator 102 does not have a lever and accordingly no mechanicaladvantage exists for purposes of regulating fluid through the controlvalve 104.

FIG. 3 depicts a regulator 202 of the present disclosure that controlsfluid flow through a control valve 204 located between a first pipe 206and a second pipe 208. The regulator 202 has a valve stem 210 that movesto adjust fluid flow through the control valve 204. The valve stem 210is connected to a linkage 226 that includes a lever 212 and a link 228.In particular, the valve stem 210 is connected to the link 228, which isconnected to the lever 212. The lever 212 is acted upon by a diaphragm214. The diaphragm 214 is contained in a housing 216 having a upperchamber 218 formed in part by a diaphragm cover 220 and a lower chamber222. A spring 224 is located in the upper chamber 218 and acts on thediaphragm 214 in a direction perpendicular to the flow of fluid throughfirst pipe 6 and second pipe 8. The lever 212 provides a desirablemechanical advantage as it amplifies the force exerted on it by thediaphragm 14. Furthermore, the configuration of the regulator 2 allowsfor the diaphragm cover 220 to be stamped rather than cast, resulting inless expense, and the direction of force exerted by the spring 224 doesnot need to be rotated in order to move the valve stem 210 to restrictfluid flow through the control valve 204.

FIG. 4 depicts one embodiment of a linkage 226 of a regulator 202 withinthe scope of the present disclosure. The linkage 226 includes lever 212and link 228. The lever 212 has a main body portion 230, a first endportion 232 connected to a first end of the main body 230, and a secondend portion 234 connected to the second end of the main body and to thelower part of the housing 216 at lever-housing connection 242. The link228 has a first section 236 connected to the lever 212 at lever-linkconnection 240, and a second section 238 connected to the lower part ofthe housing 216 at a lever-housing fixed hinge point 242 at or nearwhere the first section 236 meets the second section 238.

In the embodiment depicted in FIG. 4, the lever-link connection 240 is afixed hinge point and the lever-housing connection 242 is a slidingconnection, for example, a movable pivot that can slide within a groove.In the embodiment depicted in FIG. 5, the lever-link connection 240 is asliding connection, for example, a movable pivot that can slide within agroove, while the lever-housing connection 242 is a fixed hinge point.In the embodiment depicted in FIG. 6, the lever-link connection 240 is asliding connection, for example, a movable pivot that can slide within agroove, and the lever-housing connection 242 is also a slidingconnection, for example, a movable pivot that can slide within a groove.The embodiment of FIG. 7 is similar to that of FIG. 6, although thelever-link connection 240 is arranged so that the pivot is carried bythe link 228 and the groove is carried by the lever 212.

While the present disclosure has been described with respect to certainembodiments, it will be understood that variations may be made theretothat are still within the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A regulator, characterized in that the regulatorcomprises: a housing; a diaphragm cover of the regulator disposed on anupper end of the housing; a lever-type regulating device; and thelever-type regulating device comprises a regulating diaphragm disposedbetween the housing and the diaphragm cover of the regulator, aregulating spring disposed between the regulating diaphragm and thediaphragm cover of the regulator, and a lever connected with theregulating diaphragm by mechanical linkage; the lever is connected to avalve stem of the regulator; under the action of elastic force producedby the regulating spring, the movement of the regulating diaphragmdrives the movement of the lever, and the movement of the lever drivesthe movement of the valve stem to control the flow rate of an inletchannel.
 2. The regulator according to the claim 1, characterized inthat, the lever comprises a first arm and a second arm, wherein thesecond arm is connected to one end of a straight-bar, and the other endof the straight-bar is connected to the regulating diaphragm; the firstarm is connected to the valve stem of the regulator.
 3. The regulatoraccording to the claim 2, characterized in that, the first arm comprisesa first fixed articulated point and a first movable articulated point,and the second arm comprises an articulated point corresponding to thefirst movable articulated point and a first groove; the first arm isconnected to the second arm by the first movable articulated point and aarticulated hole, and the first arm is fixed on the housing by the firstfixed articulated point; the second arm is able to move along thedirection of the first groove by the cooperation of the first groove anda first movable pivot point on the housing.
 4. The regulator accordingto the claim 2, characterized in that, the first arm comprises a secondfixed articulated point and a second movable pivot point, and the secondarm comprises a third fixed articulated point and a second groove; thefirst arm and the second arm are able to move along the direction of thesecond groove by the cooperation of the second movable pivot point andthe second groove; the first arm is fixed on the housing by the secondfixed articulated point, and the second arm is fixed on the housing bythe third fixed articulated point.
 5. The regulator according to theclaim 2, characterized in that, the first arm comprises a forth fixedarticulated point and a third movable pivot point, and the second armcomprises a third groove and a forth groove; the first arm and thesecond arm are able to move along the direction of the third groove bythe cooperation of the third movable pivot point and the third groove,the second arm is able to move along the direction of the forth grooveby the cooperation of the forth movable pivot point on the housing andthe forth groove.
 6. The regulator according to the claim 2,characterized in that, the first arm comprises a fifth fixed articulatedpoint and a fifth groove, and the second arm comprises a fifth movablepivot point and a sixth groove; the first arm is fixed on the housingthrough the fifth fixed articulated point; the first arm and the secondarm are able to move along the direction of the fifth groove by thecooperation of the fifth movable pivot point on the housing and thefifth groove; the second arm is able to move along the direction of thesixth groove by the cooperation of the sixth movable pivot point on thehousing and the sixth groove.
 7. The regulator according to any one ofclaims 1-6, characterized in that the axis of the inlet channel and theoutlet channel is perpendicular to the axis of the valve stem, whereinthe outlet channel corresponds to the inlet channel.
 8. The regulatoraccording to any one of claims 1-6, characterized in that the diaphragmcover of the regulator is made by stamping processing.
 9. A regulatorcomprising: a control valve connecting a first pipe and a second pipe; avalve stem configured to regulate fluid flow through the control valve;a linkage including a lever and a link connected to the valve stem; adiaphragm connected to the linkage; a housing surrounding the diaphragm,the housing having an upper chamber formed at least in part by adiaphragm cover and a lower chamber; a spring connected to the diaphragmand contained in the upper chamber of the housing, the spring acting onthe diaphragm in a direction perpendicular to a direction of fluid flowthrough the first pipe and the second pipe.
 10. The regulator of claim9, wherein the lever includes: a main body portion; a first end portionconnected to a first end of the main body; and a second end portionconnected to the second end of the main body and to the housing at alever-housing connection.
 11. The regulator of claim 10, wherein thelever-housing connection is a sliding connection.
 12. The regulator ofclaim 11, wherein the sliding connection forming the lever-housingconnection includes a movable pivot configured to slide in a groove. 13.The regulator of claim 10, wherein the lever-housing connection is afixed hinge connection.
 14. The regulator of claim 9, wherein the linkincludes: a first section connected to the lever at a lever-linkconnection; a second section connected to the valve stem; the linkfurther being connected to the housing at a fixed hinge point locatedwhere the first section meets the second section.
 15. The regulator ofclaim 14, wherein the lever-link connection is a sliding connection. 16.The regulator of claim 15, wherein the sliding connection forming thelever-link connection includes a movable pivot configured to slide in agroove.
 17. The regulator of claim 14, wherein the lever-link connectionis a fixed hinge connection.
 18. The regulator of claim 10, wherein thelink includes: a first section connected to the lever at a lever-linkconnection; a second section connected to the valve stem; the linkfurther being connected to the housing at a fixed hinge point locatedwhere the first section meets the second section.
 19. The regulator ofclaim 18, wherein: the lever-housing connection is a sliding connection;and the lever-link connection is a fixed hinge connection.
 20. Theregulator of claim 19, wherein the sliding connection forming thelever-housing connection includes a movable pivot configured to slide ina groove.
 21. The regulator of claim 18, wherein: the lever-housingconnection is a fixed hinge connection; the lever-link connection is asliding connection.
 22. The regulator of claim 21, wherein the slidingconnection forming the lever-link connection includes a movable pivotconfigured to slide in a groove.
 23. The regulator of claim 18, wherein:the lever-housing connection is a sliding connection; the lever-linkconnection is a sliding connection.
 24. The regulator of claim 23,wherein the sliding connection forming the lever-housing connectionincludes a movable pivot configured to slide in a groove.
 25. Theregulator of claim 23, wherein the sliding connection forming thelever-link connection includes a movable pivot configured to slide in agroove.
 26. The regulator of claim 9, wherein the diaphragm cover isconfigured such that it can be manufactured by stamping.
 27. Theregulator of claim 9, wherein the lever is configured to amplify a forceexerted by the spring.
 28. The regulator of claim 27, where the lever isconfigured to transmit the force amplified from the spring to the valvestem in order to improve closure performance of the control valve.